Kazimir’s Journey: A Brave Little Heart Filled With Faith, Hope, and Filipino Strength

By mom Gayle

Every time we celebrate a milestone, I can’t help but get emotional — especially when I look back at Baby Kazimir’s earliest photos. The memories still bring tears to my eyes, but now they’re tears of gratitude. Today, I remind myself of how blessed we are for the gift of his life, his courage, and his unstoppable heart.

Our journey began with the words no parent is ever prepared to hear:

“He is a ticking time bomb, Mommy. Days or weeks ra siya if dili maoperahan.”

In that moment, my world crashed. My baby — just days old — lay in the ICU with tubes and wires surrounding his tiny body. He stayed there for more than three weeks as four doctors explained the rare and complex diagnosis:

Complex Congenital Heart Disease — DTGA, AVSD Rastelli Type A, PVA, PDA, DORV.

Five serious heart defects… all inside one small, fragile chest.

The first months felt like walking through a storm. After his 2-month vaccine, Kazimir’s oxygen saturation dropped to 35%. It became a fight between life and death. I was terrified, but I refused to lose hope. I prayed harder than I ever had in my life.

And then, God opened doors.

Through compassionate people and guidance from above, we were referred to the Philippine Heart Center — a place that would become a symbol of hope for our family. Everything happened so quickly: sleepless nights, endless documents, pumping milk, monitoring every breath, and praying without ceasing. Every day, my simple prayer was:

“Lord, please give my baby strength.”

And He did.

And so did Kazimir. ❤️

Despite his size, Kazimir fought with the courage of a warrior. At just two months old, he underwent his first procedure — the PDA Stent. Seeing someone so tiny endure so much was heartbreaking, but behind every procedure stood dedicated, skilled Filipino doctors and nurses who cared for him like their own.

At eight months old, he underwent Open Heart Surgery — the Glenn Shunt (ironically sharing the same name as his Papa 😅). In a single year, our little boy faced two life-saving, high-risk surgeries.

His Glenn procedure lasted nine long hours. Doctors discovered more complications and had to place two shunts instead of one. For nearly a month — almost three weeks of that in the SICU — we watched monitors, listened to beeps, and held our breath through every rise and fall of his oxygen levels.

But God made a way.

And our medical team did, too.

Kazimir survived. 💚

I will forever be grateful for our family, friends, and loved ones who carried us in prayer. But I am just as grateful for the Filipino doctors, nurses, and staff whose hands, skills, and compassion gave Kazimir a fighting chance. Their dedication proved that hope lives right here in the Philippines — that our hospitals, our specialists, and our people are capable of miracles.

Today, Kazimir is a joyful, playful, strong two-year-old. His speech is a little delayed, and he’s overflowing with energy (sometimes too much — but we’ll take it! 😅). Every laugh, every step, every breath… is a reminder of how far he has come.

After countless tests, 2D echos, lab work, and hospital stays, I have learned what true strength looks like. It looks like a small child with a brave heart — a heart that never gave up.

Last year was filled with fear and tears.

This year is filled with peace, relief, and hope.

And the fact that we haven’t been back to the hospital for months feels like a miracle all on its own.

Kazimir still has one more Open Heart Surgery ahead — the Fontan, scheduled when he turns five. And we are preparing for that day with the same faith, hope, and trust that carried us this far.

May he grow healthy, happy, and strong — a living testimony that miracles do happen, that no battle is too big, and that there is always hope for children with congenital conditions.

To every parent walking this road:

Do not lose heart.

There is help.

There is hope.

And right here in the Philippines, there are doctors and medical teams capable of giving our children a future.

Kazimir is proof of that.

And his brave little heart keeps beating with faith. 💚💚💚